Australian Gold Vine

This is the Maiden’s Jealousy (Tristellateia australasiae), a popular ornamental vine that can grow up to 10m in height, with a native geographic range from Southeast Asia to New Caledonia. It’s actually a liana, which means that it’s firmly rooted in the ground, but is long-stemmed and woody, and requires the support of trees to grow vertically. Although it’s often seen in urban areas now, its natural habitat is rather more watery: along creeks, coastal forests, mangrove forests, and tidal swamps.The pretty, bright yellow flowers that it sports are characteristic to the plant, and account for its popularity. This is further bolstered by its ability to bloom all year round, as well as its quick growth rate. Its fruits, which are star shaped, are arguably adorable too. The plant can be cultivated either by seed or stem cuttings, and prefers full sun and moderate water. Like many others, pruning and deadheading can help trigger more profuse blooming.